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By J. O. Marsden

Over the past decade, the copper industry has been through an extended downturn followed by several years of sustained high copper price. A number of new technologies have been developed over the past 10 years aimed at reducing costs by decreasing energy, labor, and materials requirements, or by increasing metal recovery. The energy intensity of different copper extraction routes and different technologies varies considerably and this has a significant impact on the economics of extraction. Based on average ore grade materials, the total energy for the extraction of copper typically varies from about 24-26 MJ/lb (6.7-7.2 kWh/lb) for the mining, crushing, milling, flotation, smelting and refining route to about 14¬16 MJ/lb (3.9-4.5 kWh/lb) for the mining, crushing, heap leaching, solution extraction and electrowinning route. New technology developments are providing opportunities for significant reductions in energy consumption for copper extraction, representing energy savings up to 20-25% in some cases. In addition, in many cases, these new technologies have introduced environmental, safety and health benefits over the incumbent technology. Some of these technology developments have been more successful than others, and many hold great promise for application in the coming decade. This paper provides an overview of the technology developments that have occurred, and explores the underlying reasons behind successful implementation.

Jan 1, 2007

By A. K. Croteau

"At Craigmont Mines Limited, Merritt, B.C., the mining practice of trackless sub-level caving was started in the latter part of 1966. This type of mining was new to the mine personnel and the mining industry of Canada as a whole. Sub-level caving has presented many old and a number of new problems in maintaining the equipment used in this method. This paper will deal with some of these problems as they affect this particular mining operation. It will be impossible to review all phases of the equipment, but an attempt will be made to cover the most pertinent aspects in maintaining the drilling, mucking and hauling, and auxiliary equipment."

Jan 1, 1970

By P. -M. Tardif, S. Outalha, R. Le

"This paper proposes a new direction to implement an underground mine communication system. It presents actual underground communication systems and discusses their technological limits. A new system based on a wireless local area network (WLAN), together with its main systems characteristics, is then proposed. This paper also presents an experimental protocol for radio frequency propagation measurements. Finally, the paper describes the projected implementation of a WLAN in an experimental mine. IntroductionDuring the last decade, a number of Canadian mining companies have invested in modern communications systems in order to automate processes and reduce operational costs. Safety of miners is also a concern, regulated by health and safety regimes.Underground communication systems rely mainly on analog technology (especially the leaky feeder). Digital upgrades have been made to modernize this technology using a coaxial or fibre optic cable to transmit voice, documents, commands, controls, and video. Therefore, all wired equipment can benefit from an increase in efficiency from the digital technology.However, when it comes to mobile equipment, the only medium was, and is, still radio waves. With the advent of the wireless local area network (WLAN) standard, one can use a technology similar to that of the cellular phone to connect transparently different equipment. WLAN enables the transmission at rates higher than 2 M bits of voice, documents, commands, controls, identification, and of course, digital video. This technology was developed with inbuilding use in mind. Now, one can try to adapt it to underground mines."

Jan 1, 2000

By W. E. Oching, M. M. Ghomshei

"Collaboration among Ventilation Engineers, Mine Inspectors, worker representatives, health and safety officers and management is key to an effective operational mine ventilation management. Mine ventilation training, ventilation survey reports for mine stakeholders and interaction with mine frontline workers and management concerning safety, energy saving, assets management and maintenance are effective tools in implementing best industry practices and significant reduction of ventilation operating costs without compromising safety. These approaches may not be new to well established mining companies but the real dilemma is how to implement them effectively and this is what this paper will address.INTRODUCTIONManaging an effective mine ventilation system is becoming increasingly challenging, especially during tough economic times in the mining industry. Management strives for more production while frontline miners work hard to surpass the production targets, thus improving their incentives and above all aiming to enhance the prospects of their job security when the mining industry is facing challenging times. Taking shortcuts by not fully following the safety regulations or industry best practices are often notable, resulting in the rise of Workers Compensation Board claims and temporary shutdowns of active workings, compromising productivity and increasing the operating costs.In accordance with the Mines regulations in various jurisdictions in Canada and the US, it is evident that companies adhere to establishing basic ventilation management systems through the provision of the code of practice, procedures, work practices and standards/guidelines. This is aimed at ensuring the health and safety of underground workers (de Souza, 2017). However, the challenge to many operations is the improper implementation of the mine ventilation regulations including some managers showing reckless disregard for workers safety by focusing on production and not worrying to address ventilation problems (Steven & O'Keefe, 2010). Other challenges facing effective ventilation management include inadequate training of frontline workers on ventilation system and hazards associated with poor ventilation systems such as toxic gases, dust, heat, and underground explosions (Mufson et al., 2010; Suvar et al., 2017); friction between mine managers and the mine inspectors (Mufson et al., 2010), improper maintenance of ventilation system and inventory management, among others."

Jan 1, 2019

By P. G. Killeen

Proper calibration of portable gammaray spectrometers and spectrometric logging equipment is essential if they are to be used for accurate quantitative determinations of radioelement concentrations. In the case of both types of equipment, it is necessary to determine the system calibration constants (stripping factors and sensitivities). In the case of borehole logging equipment, it is further necessary to determine the system response characteristics if the data are to be computer processed to improve the accuracy and resolution of the logs. Facilities are now available near Ottawa for the complete calibration of portable gamma-ray spectrometers and spectrometric logging equipment, in addition to already existing facilities for calibrating airborne gamma-ray spectrometers. Limited additional facilities are also available or planned in several other areas of Canada.

Jan 1, 1978

By F. D. Aaring

"IntroductionTHE PINCHER CREEK gas condensate field, in Township 3, Range 28, and Townships 3 and 4, Range 29, West of the Fourth Meridian, was discovered in 1947 by the Canadian Gulf Oil Company with the completion of Pincher Creek No. 1 well in the Madison lime-stone of Mississippian age.This discovery was the result of a great deal of detailed seismic work in the area and is a credit to the geophysical personnel of the Company. The depth of the reservoir varies from 7,400 feet to 8,200 feet subsea, with the established water level at -8,200 feet. The predicted depth was but a scant 100 feet from that found in the discovery well, at 11, 705 feet. Since the discovery of the reservoir, three additional wells have penetrated the Madison limestone and have further verified the original •seismic interpretation of the limits of this reservoir.To date, •only a very small amount of gas has been produced from this field. Consequently, the reservoir studies that have been made so far are predominantly based on investigations of the phase behaviour of the fluid and physical characteristics of the reservoir rock. In view of the above limitations, it has been necessary to set up and perform model reservoir studies with the fluids and to recover as much core from the productive Madison limestone as possible in order that it might be analysed by conventional laboratory technique and be subjected to detailed microscopic geological examination."

Jan 1, 1952

By Meimei Zhang

In the overall open pit mine planning process, mining phase design is a strategic driver in guiding and constructing the block extraction sequence and determining the annual net cash flow distribution. Mining phase design should obey some practical constraints, such as ?minimum mining width? and ?flat mining phase bottom?, to allow space for haul road development and truck and shovel access on each bench. However, these practical mining phase design requirements are not taken into account in all first-cut mining phase design methods and post-processing is always required to convert an impractical design to a practical one, resulting in a potentially significant loss of Net Present Value (NPV) relative to the first-cut impractical designs. In this paper, we present a method using a meta-heuristic algorithm ? Simulated Annealing ? to enforce those practical constraints in determining a mineable phase design whilst ensuring minimum NPV loss.

Oct 1, 2009

By G Anders

The mucking out of sub-level headings by slusher and by Autoloader is described, and the performance and costs of both methods are compared. The introduction of the Autoloader is taken as an example to illustrate the meth-od used at the mine for evaluating the suitability of new equipment. The consecutive steps in the process are covered in detail -from the preliminary cost analysis and the preliminary estimate of savings and advantages, and the review of these data after a field investigation, through the elimination of dubious factors, and detailed time and performance studies at the property, to the final assessment of the new equipment and an evaluation of the initial forecast. The Autoloader in Operation. 1198 Introduction AT Mattagami Lake Mines Ltd., the mine workings are laid out basically on a pattern of 60-ft.-wide stapes alternating with 60-ft.-wide pillars, with stope lengths varying from 80 to 200 ft. and stope tonnages generally between 80,000 and 200,000 tons. Stapes are drilled off from sub-levels at 60-ft. intervals, with the

Jan 1, 1965

By Z. Jun, L. Kerning

Jinlong copper smelter and refinery, originally designed for 100,000tpa primary copper and started up in 1997, has been expanding its capacity on the basis of operational optimization and by modifying its facilities. Currently it is producing 210,000tpa primary copper, and the new phase of expansion project with a target capacity of 350,000tpa primary copper is ongoing. This paper reviews problems and improvements made with operation and equipment in the past years. Recent plant operation is briefly described. The expansion projects completed are summarized and the ongoing expansion project is present.

Jan 1, 2007

By F. O. Verret

Several grindability tests were developed over the years to design grinding circuits or optimize existing operations. Each test has its own strengths and weaknesses and it is imperative to select the proper test procedure(s) to meet project deliverables and minimize the risk of a project. Pilot plant testing of large bulk samples historically constituted the traditional approach for AG or SAG design, but was gradually replaced by small-scale tests. Nowadays, conducting grindability tests requiring only a few kilos of material on several samples is a more typical approach to grinding mill design. This paper summarises the requirements and deliverables of various bench-scale test procedures, their strengths and weaknesses, and cases where AG/SAG pilot testing should still be performed.

Jan 1, 2012

By H. Stutchbury

Alberta is labouring, and has laboured, under serious difficulties in the marketing of ?her coals, due to a number of conditions which now obtain, but all of which appear capable of solution, and their elimination would insure a very largely increased market for the vast coal resources of that province. It is perhaps necessary to again mention the fact that 15 per cent of the world's coal resources are to be found in Alberta; 21 per cent of that of North America; 72 per cent of that of the British Empire, and 87 per cent of that of all Canada. While we talk largely of the great wealth of Canada, the immensity of her vast natural resources, it is axiomatic that the mere presence of any natural product in a country does not in itself constitute wealth for that country, unless these raw materials can find a market, either in their raw state, or by the process of manufacture. There are many factors, however, which enter into the marketing of any commodity. The chief of these, in my opinion, is price competition. High costs of production materially reduce the radius in which any product can be marketed, and this applies particularly to coal. Mining costs in the province of Alberta are necessarily high at the present time, due in a large measure to the ease with which the 'gopher hole' mine can be opened with small capital.

Jan 1, 1925

By Biplop Das, E. Herrera, A. Burrows, P. J. Mackey, G. R. F. Alvear Flores

Since the first commercial plant was built at Mount Isa, another twenty ISASMELT™ furnaces have come into commercial operation, and construction of new plants continues. The primary copper ISASMELT™ top submerged lance (TSL) technology continues to attract interest from potential users who seek to smelt productively. In addition to the known benefits of productivity and flexibility, ISASMELT™ operators have also achieved improvements to energy efficiency when switching from their previous technologies. The recent production statistics for operation at Tuticorin, India show that ISASMELT™ has taken the first steps into territory beyond 400,000 t/y (copper cathode basis) and this will likely be the scale chosen by future new copper smelters operating purely on a toll smelting basis. Highly energy-efficient technologies will be expected at these smelters

Jan 1, 2015

By B. van Beek, T. Goff, P. Gebski, P. Szyplinski, W. L. Ying

"Monitoring the refractory lining integrity is essential to assure the safety of the operators and to determine the remaining campaign life of a furnace. Early detection of refractory lining degradation is essential to avoid sudden furnace failures and prevent unscheduled shutdowns. In the mid-1990s a stress wave propagation technique was developed and since then it has been utilized by Hatch Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Group to evaluate furnace linings. For the last 17 years the AU-E technique evolved in terms of hardware, software and signal acquisition and interpretation. Most importantly, based on more than a decade of commercial applications, an extensive database of various failure modes, refractory deterioration trends and material properties has been created. This knowledge base is an integral part of AU-E which progressed from a NDT technique towards a comprehensive approach for furnace condition monitoring. All of the improvements introduced over the last several years have greatly improved the accuracy of the measurements. The data analysis process has also become more time efficient making the critical results available to the furnace operators in a more timely manner. Today the AU-E technology is used on a variety of process vessels in non-ferrous, glass, chemical and iron and steel industries.In this paper we are reviewing the available techniques for furnace refractory lining measurement and discussing the pros and cons of each method. The need for continuous improvement and development of new techniques for refractory monitoring is also emphasized. Finally, we are presenting a number of case studies and comparisons between the physical verifications and the AU-E measurements."

Jan 1, 2015

The Challenges in Mining _Large expensive assets that are not being utilised as well as they should _?Silo? operations plan, schedule and execute in isolation?poor visibility across the Value Chain _Disruptions or unforeseen events have serious upstream and downstream impacts _Exacerbated by multiple information systems, mostly spreadsheets _Strategic simulation (supply and demand) is often poorly Handled

Nov 1, 2011

By Louise Corriveau, Bronwyn Azar, Valerie A. Jackson, Luke Ootes, Jeff Harris

We use the results of new bedrock mapping, combined with geochemical point data and airborne radiometric data (in particular equivalent uranium concentrations) to help determine which geological units in the Paleoproterozoic Great Bear magmatic zone (GBmz) contain elevated uranium. The data collectively indicate that the highest primary uranium concentrations are in equigranular granites and subvolcanic/volcanic porphyries. Notably, these rocks host the majority of known uranium-bearing deposits and/or prospects in the GBmz. We speculate that the uranium in these deposits/prospects was derived from nearby, uranium-enriched rocks and was mobilized by much younger, circulating hydrothermal fluids. Sedimentary rocks of the Thelon and Dismal Lakes groups unconformably overlie the GBmz and are known to host unconformity-type and sandstone-hosted uranium prospects. Most likely, the uraniumenriched rocks of the GBmz acted as a uranium donor to these overlying sedimentary basins. The method of investigation employed in this study may be applicable to other ‘granitic’ terrains in order to identify regions with favourable rocks for uranium exploration.

Jan 1, 2013

By Willem P. C. Duyvesteyn

"Scandium International Mining Corp (SCY) has been involved in the commercial development of its Nyngan Scandium Project for about ten years. Various studies at a variety of global R&D organizations have been carried out in an attempt to define the deportment of scandium in both the limonite as well as the saprolite phases of Nyngan ore to assist with process development. Technologies such as sulfuric acid baking, high pressure acid leaching, sulfuric and hydrochloric acid atmospheric leaching and heap leaching have been extensively investigated both at the bench and pilot scale level to arrive at the most economic process flow sheet that will be discussed in some detail in this paper. Solvent extraction, ion exchange and other refining technologies have been tested and an optimum configuration has been established for the Nyngan project which is expected to be the first primary scandium mine and metallurgical plant in the world.Because of a lack of product availability the current scandium market is limited to less than 20 tons per year. Technologies have been identified to produce product with different specifications for aluminum alloys and solid oxide fuel cell applications. Preliminary economics have identified that Nyngan will be a robust and low capital cost project that can readily be expanded as the size of the scandium market increases."

Jan 1, 2016

By L. Price, R. Hortie

Movement of ore and waste from the Hilton Mines pit is accomplished by truck haulage. With the aim of reducing costs, a study of truck fleet replacement was initiated. The study included on-site short-term tests and longer-term rental purchase agreements for haulage trucks. The operation and maintenance characteristics of different trucks, along with projected haulage conditions, were used to prepare cash flows, from which the most advantageous trucks were selected. The results of the study and implementation of the recommendations gave a cost saving greater than had been estimated. The study also indicated areas where improvements could be made, and resulted in much more attention being paid to road conditions, the training of operators and mechanics, and the development of a practical preventative maintenance scheme.

Jan 1, 1971

By W. M. Armstrong

This paper compares research on development efforts in various countries, consideration being given to gross expenditures, manpower involved, source of funds, sector of performance and type of activity. The Canadian R & D activity is then reviewed, particularly as applied to the industrial sector, the problems of applied research in Canada are discussed and some remedies are suggested.

Jan 1, 1968

By L. M. Southwick

"The history of extractive metallurgy is replete with examples of commercializing new processing technologies. The successes are widely reported, but failures seldom are. This is unfortunate, for usually we can learn more specifics on how to succeed in technology development by studying and thoroughly understanding their failures. Frequently one encounters a red herring that caused the whole effort to fail. A thorough and objective due diligence up front would have identified those red herrings and prevented the pursuit of a bad idea and the resulting destruction of capital. Due diligent analyzes performed before construction of three such bad ideas will be discussed. One is an EAF dust process, which pursued the red herrings of a poor understanding of the business, a naïve view of past experience, and false confidence in the technology. Another will examine the effort to commercialize a new pressure copper leach process that followed the red herrings of inadequate testing of the raw material, application of processing conditions that were inherently unsafe, and an improper assessment of the inherent advantages of past developments. The last is an alternative iron-making process, where the red herrings were incomplete and superficial assessment of prior pilot plant and demonstration plant tests, an assumption that the commercialization model of “build it and we will make it run” was viable, and a technology whose technical fatal flaws had already been identified. Unfortunately, capital destruction often also closes the window to more intelligent pursuit of technology development. TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATIONThe development and commercialization of new technology is a vital part of keeping industry profitable, able to deal with new sorts of feed stocks and current with economic, product, operational and environmental requirements. This is a difficult task in the best of times, and can be compounded when the developers become enamored of a particularly favorable characteristic of the project or of the product. These “red herrings” divert project focus away from the arduous path to success and, in the end, result in project failure."

Jan 1, 2012

The Beginning ! The status quo simply isn?t sustainable ! Our social license is at risk ! The bar keeps rising ? We must improve our performance, both operational and social ? We must improve stakeholder judgement of our industry by taking action collectively Implementing TSM " TSM Guiding Principles " Performance Indicators " Crisis communications " External Outreach " Tailings management " Energy management " Performance manuals, guides " Reporting " Communities of Interest Advisory Panel

May 1, 2004